i3 - March/April 2021 - 28

Policy

We purposely elevated career staff (as
opposed to outside hires with connections)
into leadership positions in our bureaus
and offices and let them shine. That ended
up ensuring that all of us had a vested
interest in accomplishing our agenda. I also
made it a personal priority to value our staff.
This was the right thing to do as a co-worker,
and it also stemmed from the years I spent
as a staffer. Many of them have told me since
I left the Commission that they appreciated
things like publicly mentioning retirements,
hosting thank-you events, and (in a first)
listing in my own statements on meeting items, the names of every staffer who
worked on them. Speaking of meetings, we
decided to dramatically increase the work
we did at our monthly meetings. When I
was a commissioner, we would typically
consider only two or three matters at those
meetings. We increased that significantly
to six on average, with the peak coming in
November 2018. For that month, which we
called " Space Month, " the agenda included
over a dozen items. Finally, we wanted to
structure the agenda so we got as much
done as possible by the fall of 2020. Despite
some unexpected events - including the
pandemic, which forced us into a telework
posture in March 2020 - we were able to do
that. Because of these decisions on strategy
and tactics, I can honestly say that there
is nothing major that I wish we had gotten
done. I'm proud that we accomplished all
we did with the time we were given - and
that we did it together.

Q Last year we were pleased to host

you at CES. What did you see that made
an impression?
A Visiting CES was one of the highlights of
my time at the FCC. Ever since I became a
Commissioner in 2012, I treasured walking
the show floor and seeing the future of
innovation in the present. I particularly
loved exploring Eureka Park. A few years
back, one serendipitous visit to the booth
of a Toronto-based startup led to an
informative meeting with that startup in
their headquarters. On a personal note, I've
always enjoyed the serendipity of having
lived for several years next door - literally next door - to CTA Executive Vice
President Karen Chupka. She has done a
fantastic job for many years organizing
CES - one of the largest trade shows in
the world - and I'm honored to call her a
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friend. Visiting last year
was a great experience.
The energy of the show as
I walked around was palpable. And I tremendously
enjoyed my conversation with you Gary. You
deserve a lot of credit
for your long-standing
advocacy for innovation.
In terms of what I saw that
made an impression, one
thing that stood out was a
television that could display a different program
depending on where you
were sitting or standing.
Given that I'm typically the
last in line in our household when it comes to
picking what to watch, I
could benefit from that!

Q As we head into the

that Congress examines
legislation on certain topics, such as whether and
how to regulate certain
internet platforms, I would
expect the next FCC to
have some involvement in
that conversation.

Whether that
is continued
investment in
broadband technologies or creation of new
devices that
make consumers' lives better,
the industry is
poised to deliver
critical value in
the time ahead.

Q Do you have any words
of wisdom for the next
FCC Chairman?

A First, I would encourage
my successor to think purposefully about what he or
she wants to get done and
then work diligently to get
it done. Second, I would
leverage the talent of the
FCC's amazing career staff
and honor their efforts
every step of the way.

They are dedicated, smart
next administration, you
public servants who love
will be succeeded by
their country, and their
an [as-of-yet unnamed
-Ajit Pai
efforts are vital to accomChair - Jessica Rosenworcel is currently Acting
plishing one's agenda.
Chairwoman] who will be
Third, I would try as much
appointed by President
as possible to tend to
Biden. Do you have any predictions on
things that matter most: family, friends
what issues might rise to the forefront?
and non-FCC activities that are personally
A At the outset, I want to make clear that
meaningful. Leading the agency is quite a
whoever the next permanent chair is
challenging job, and those things will help
and whatever his or her agenda might
maintain perspective.
be, I hope he or she succeeds. The FCC's
success will be America's success, and
Q Rumors abound about your post-FCC
I will be rooting for my successor and
future. What comes next for you?
the Commission overall. Going forward,
A
I haven't yet made any concrete plans. I
I would expect closing the digital divide
just
finished a four-year sprint and still need
to remain the agency's top priority; the
to catch my breath! But I'm hopeful that
pandemic has only underscored the
the next adventure will be as rewarding as
importance of connectivity for all. I also
hope the agency will continue to execute
my time at the FCC. Whatever comes next,
on our successful 5G FAST Plan, a strategy
I will always be grateful to have had the
for U.S. leadership in wireless innovation,
chance to serve my country as Chairman of
which included taking the steps necesthe FCC. It gives me great pride to be the
sary to hold two more important mid-band
first Indian-American and Asian-American
spectrum auctions this year. And I expect
to serve in this position. And I marvel that
the FCC to maintain a focus on emergthis opportunity arose just one generaing technologies that will be increasingly
tion after my parents came to the United
important in communications, such as
States from India with little more than eight
artificial intelligence, machine learning,
dollars, a transistor radio and a belief in the
network virtualization (specifically, open
American Dream. As we often say in our
radio access network technologies), and
family, " only in America. "
quantum computing. Finally, to the extent
I T I S I N N O VAT I O N

3/11/21 12:37 PM

i3 - March/April 2021

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